BRIDGEWATER — The township has agreed to provide a second armed police officer for the high school at the district's expense, despite the recent comments against the idea by Gov. Chris Christie

The Bridgewater Township Council last week approved a measure to provide a second armed School Resource Officer at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School, with the school district picking up the tab, according to a draft resolution from the council obtained by NJ.com.

Bridgewater's stance is similar to one recently taken in Westfeld, which Christie opposed on a recent "Ask The Governor" call-in radio show on NJ 101.5, as reported in The Star Ledger.

"I don't think that we need to have armed police officers in schools, and I don't think it's a great atmosphere for children, to see an armed person walking around the school," Christie said on the show.

Christie said he respects towns' rights to decide what's best for their schools, and wouldn't suggest banning the officers.

"But if you're asking me, as a former law enforcement guy, do I think it's necessary? I do not think it's necessary," Christie said.

Councilman Filipe Pedroso said he was aware of the governor's comments and brought them up at the meeting. He confirmed that both school resource officers will be working for, and under the direction of, Bridgewater Police, and will be armed with full police officer rights.

"I agree with the general philosophical idea that schools should not be armed campgrounds," Pedroso said. "The governor has a tremendous amount of experience in law enforcement, and I do believe that in general he is correct. However, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School has special considerations."

Gov. Chris Christie recently said he doesn't like the idea of armed guards in schools.Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger

"The Bridgewater-Raritan High School campus is an open facility where students have to transverse from building to building to get to their classes," Pedroso said. "This open campus environment certainly exposes the school to unique vulnerabilities."

Pedroso said the board is paying costs for security it feels it needs, and with Police Chief Richard Borden involved in those discussions, it makes sense for the costs to come from the board's budget, since the cost will be shared between Raritan and Bridgewater residents.

Prior to last week's meeting, the council and school board were unable to come to terms on who would pay the costs of a second officer, according to a report on Patch.

But on Monday the council agreed to accept the board's proposal to pay $88,200 in the first year, $95,000 in the second, and $103,00 in the third, the resolution states.

An agreement memorialized the arrangement will run until July 2016, with quarterly payments starting three months after the assignment begins.

"Remembering that the tragic events that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School was the result of a malicious lunatic who decided to enter through the front door of a closed school campus, I was concerned that there was too much emphasis on school security at the high school," Pedroso said. "I was assured by Superintendent (Michael) Schilder that security changes have been looked at and implanted at the elementary schools, intermediate schools and middle school."

CONNECT WITH US

"Having a second school resource officer at a high school with 2,900 students and 11 separate buildings is much needed," Superintendent Michael Schilder said. "I'm pleased the board and township are entering in a partnership with this position."

Schilder said that the resource officers bring specialized training and the ability to connect with students on a wide variety of issues on a daily basis.

"It is more about this training than it is about the gun," Schilder said. "Students have always been very comfortable with an (officer) on campus."

Schilder said the board has also allocated more than $100,000 to enhance classroom door security hardware at all its schools.

"The board is committed to enhancing safety and security throughout the district," Schilder said. "In addition to the new (officer), two more security personnel have been added, bringing the high school security force to three security guards and two police officers."

"Providing adequate security to the public is a paramount responsibility of government, and I am pleased that the board of education is taking a proactive approach to preventing a Columbine or Sandy Hook incident from happening here," Pedroso said. "With adequate security measures in all our schools, we can do our part in keeping our schools a safe place for all."